When elderly individuals have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other kinds of dementia, their adult children and/or caregivers are seriously affected by the diagnosis. This is because they need to make important decisions about their loved ones’ care.
It is least traumatic for affected individuals to receive home care from an agency like ours, Assisting Hands Home Care. This is because home care provides seniors with a familiar environment, diminishing the amount of anxiety they may feel. Furthermore, home care agencies can also provide family caregivers with respite care so they can take some time off.
At Assisting Hands, our home care experts can provide advice on how to handle anger and safety issues in addition to making sure affected seniors eat well and take proper medications. Our Alzheimer’s and dementia care services in Wheaton, IL can be covered by your loved one’s long term care insurance.
Recognizing the Symptoms
If you recognize Alzheimer’s symptoms and the disease is diagnosed early, this gives one time to better manage any difficulties. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, this disease begins gradually and progresses slowly, lasting for 6-20 years.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease, but affected individuals ― as well as their families ― can have an easier time with everyday life with a combination of treatments and the correct support services. It can be a difficult task to care for individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease because there are new concerns every day.
Per SelfHelp.com, “caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease impacts every aspect of daily life. As Alzheimer’s patients lose one ability after another, caregivers face tests of stamina, problem-solving, and resiliency. During this long and difficult journey, communication diminishes, rewards decrease, and without strong support, caretakers face challenges to their own well-being.”
Family caregivers can easily become stressed, anxious, and fatigued by providing care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia. But they can ― and should ― take breaks from this by getting help from Assisting Hands. If you and/or your family needs help caring for a loved one, our caregivers will assist clients who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
Monitoring Common Behavior Patterns
- Wandering: Safety is the main concern people have regarding home care. Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease often walk around and wander which can be dangerous. Our caregivers will make sure that they walk around safely and do not leave their residence. We prevent this by locking outside access doors and requiring a key to unlock the door from within. In addition to preventing wandering, our caregivers will work to ensure clients’ safety by making sure they never leave water running or keep the stove on.
- Companionship: When it comes to Alzheimer’s care, socialization is very important. In fact, a lot of families have reported that their affected relatives have improved moods when engaging with someone socially. With the way one-on-one care works, caregivers have the opportunity to be companions for Alzheimer’s clients in addition to providing care. Furthermore, caregivers can be present throughout the night, too, which is when clients’ confusion and anxiety can be heightened. We will monitor their behavior as we provide all-night care.
- Nutrition: With the memory loss that comes with Alzheimer’s and dementia, it is common for affected individuals to forget about bathing and meals. Our caregivers have been trained to provide meal preparation in addition to personal care. Fearing water is common for Alzheimer’s patients, which makes something as simple as bathing stressful. Knowing this, caregivers keep track of baths and will make sure your loved ones bathe regularly. In addition, we will help clients get to the bathroom safely and monitor these visits to prevent accidents.
- Medication Reminders: Elderly individuals suffering from dementia tend to take medications at the incorrect time or neglect to take them at all. According to industry data, medication non-adherence accounts for as much as 33 to 69 percent of hospital admissions pertaining to medication. Furthermore, medication non-adherence accounts for 23 percent of nursing home admissions. Of the 3 billion prescriptions issued annually in the U.S., 12 percent of them never get picked up while 40 percent do not get taken properly. Assisting Hands’ home care aids will make sure clients take their medications in the correct dosage and at the correct time. Additionally, caregivers will monitor medications and can get refills for prescriptions.
Adult children naturally want to care for relatives with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, but it’s beneficial for family caregivers and their loved ones to get assistance from a professional caregiver. This allows family caregivers respite while guaranteeing that your loved one still receives the care and assistance they need from trained and certified caregivers.
At Assisting Hands, we are ready to help those with Alzheimer’s or dementia in Wheaton, IL and DuPage County live safely in their own homes.
